The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

Today’s news summary highlights news of the arrival of Presidential ballot papers in the country; news concerning the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ Award won by President Sirleaf as well as the releasing of US$10 million loan to target 10,000 households in Liberia by the World Bank as dominant stories captured in the local dailies.  

The summary also includes news of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Government of Liberia and Armenia.

DOMINANT STORIES

Presidential Ballot Papers Arrive

The National Elections Commission (NEC) says presidential ballot papers from the European state of Slovenia have arrived in Liberia. NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome Korkoya said the ballot papers arrived on Saturday night, 23 September at the Roberts International Airport on board a chartered Egypt cargo aircraft. Chairman Korkoya says the distribution of the presidential ballot papers to all 5390 polling places throughout the country will begin next week. According to the NEC boss, representative ballot papers will arrive in Liberia from Ghana on or before 28 September.  Cllr. Korkoya officially announced the ballot’s arrival on Sunday at a special arranged press conference held at the NEC Headquarters in Sinkor.  He says the Liberia National Police (LNP) had deployed armed officers at the airport to provide maximum protection during the arrival of the ballot papers, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Presidential Ballot Papers Arrive-NEC To Jet In Legislative Papers On Sept. 28 (Heritage), Presidential Ballot Papers In Town (The INQUIRER), Ballot papers Arrive In Monrovia Ahead Of October 10 Elections (FrontPage Africa)

Ellen Receives Global Goalkeeper Award

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been recognized and honored as a ‘Global Goalkeeper’ at the Global Goals Awards Ceremony hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in New York. According to a dispatch from New York, USA, President Sirleaf on September 19, 2017 received the award of Global Goalkeepers, which is granted and awarded to individuals dedicated to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The Global Goalkeepers will raise awareness of the stories and the data behind the goals, hold their leaders accountable and drive investment and actions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Speaking at the Award Ceremony, President Sirleaf described the initiative as awesome and reflected on the long journey and efforts that led to the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the new set of global goals that replaced the Millennium Development Goals.

Related Captions: Bill Gates Foundation Crowns Ellen ‘Global Goalkeeper’ (Heritage), Ellen Becomes “Global Goalkeeper” (INSIGHT)

W/Bank $10m Loan Targets 10,000 Households

The World Bank Country Director for Liberia, Africa Region Mr. Henry Kerali on Wednesday 20 September declared the Liberia Social Safety Net Project, dubbed “the poorest counties in Liberia” ready for implementation with a $10 million loan. The declaration follows the project ratification by both the Liberian Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively. A press release from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in Monrovia says under the project, an initial 10,000 households will be targeted in the four poorest counties in Liberia - Bomi, Grand Kru, River Gee and Maryland, as beneficiaries of cash transfers as an income supplement to lift them from extreme poverty and build their resilience against life cycle risks and future shocks, the New Dawn newspaper reads.

Related Captions: To Lift Poor Population Out Of Extreme Poverty: World Bank Declares Liberia Social Safety Net Effective (Heritage), World Bank Declares Liberia Social Safety Net Effective (The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia, Armenia Establish Diplomatic Ties

The Heritage newspaper explains that the Governments of the Republics of Liberia and Armenia have established diplomatic relations. “Guided by the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, have decided to establish diplomatic relations in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of the 18^th of April 1961, as of the signing of this Protocol,” the Agreement said. According to a dispatch from New York, the Protocol was signed on the margins of the 72^nd session of the United Nations General Assembly currently taking place in New York on Friday, September 22, 2017. Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Her Excellency Ms. Marjon Kamara and the Armenian Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mr. Edward Nalbandian, signed for their respective governments. The two countries have agreed to promote mutual understanding and strengthen friendship and cooperation between them.

Related Caption: Government Of Liberia And Armenia Establish Diplomatic Relations (INSIGHT)

Chinese Investment EXIM Bank Commits To Funding Economically Viable Projects In Liberia

The Export - Import Bank of China or EXIM Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to the economic development of Liberia but places “high attention” to projects that are economically viable for the West African nation. EXIM Bank Vice President Mr. Yuan Xingyong said the bank’s cooperation with African countries focuses on solving problems by initiating projects that are sustainable for development. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says the bank is currently funding a US$50 million loan for the modernization of Liberia’s Roberts International Airport - an “on course infrastructure project” - regarded as a “symbol of friendship” between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Liberia. Madam Zhang Shou, the bank’s Deputy General Manager for Concessional Loan said the bank considers Liberia’s economic sustainability through viable projects and hope “the Liberian side will choose projects that are viable” to promote the economic and social development of the long term. 

Ahead Of October Polls: Over 100 LNP Officers Complete UNMIL FPU Training

According to the Heritage newspaper, over 100 officers of the Liberia National Police at the weekend completed UNMIL Formed Police Unite (FPU) training ahead of the 2017 Presidential and representative Elections. The training which was held at the LNPTA in Paynesville was conducted by 14 instructors of the UNMIL Chinese FPU, trained 148 police officers in crowd control, VIP escort, weapon disassemble and assemble, map reading, checkpoint security, building, sweeping, body search, vehicle inspection and security maintenance.

Political Debates Essential For Democratic Process…Says GC

The Vice chairman of the Governance Commission (GC), Madam Elizabeth Mulbah, has said political debate is essential for the democratic process in Liberia. She said debating national issues will inform the electorates on how to make sound decisions at the ballot box during the Presidential and Representative Elections on October 10. According to the Heritage newspaper, Madam Mulbah made the statement at a one-day Civic Education Forum on “the Electoral environment” about sustainable Economic development and growth in Liberia held in Monrovia.  She indicated that the forum organized by the Governance Commission is intended to educate electorate on relevant national issues confronting the nation.

NOCAL Donates Assorted Materials To Kingdom Care Medical Center

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the National Oil Company of Liberia, (NOCAL) on the weekend donated assorted materials to the Kingdom Care Medical Center in Duport Road. Delivering the item, the Corporate Communication Officer of NOCAL Ambulah Mamey said the donation was part of NOCAl social responsibility and commitment to the Kingdom Care mobile Clinic in the area of health.

Seed Company Completes Oral Bible Translation Training

The Heritage newspaper says foreign missionaries have completed three-week insensitive Oral Bible translation training for over twenty-one Liberians in the country. Seed Company, through its implementing partner, New Harvest Global Ministries organized conducted the training. The Pidgin English speaking group and the Gbi speaking people benefited from the three-week training.

Related Caption: For Pidgin English And Gbi Speaking Liberians: Seed Company Conducts Oral Bible Training” (INSIGHT)